The Royal Student and the Future President: A Bond Between Oman and India

New Delhi, December 16, 2025: The story of the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said of Oman and Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma, who would go on to become the ninth President of India, is a remarkable testament to the deep, historical, and personal ties between the two nations. This fascinating connection, forged decades ago in a classroom in Pune, India, speaks volumes about the enduring respect and affection shared at the highest levels of Indian and Omani leadership.

Early Education in India

Born in 1940, Sultan Qaboos received a part of his early schooling in India. Following in the footsteps of his father, Sultan Said bin Taimur, who was an alumnus of the prestigious Mayo College in Ajmer, the young prince was sent to a private educational institution in Pune. It was during this formative period in the 1950s that Qaboos had the opportunity to be taught by Shankar Dayal Sharma, a distinguished academic and political leader at the time.

While historical records sometimes debate the precise nature of this “professor-student” relationship given Dr. Sharma’s simultaneous deep involvement in politics, the Sultan himself acknowledged this educational bond many times over. The essence of the connection lies not merely in a formal academic setting, but in the profound personal impact of an influential Indian thinker on the future Omani monarch.

A Respect That Transcended Protocol

The true measure of this teacher-student relationship was revealed decades later in 1996, when Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma, then the President of India, visited Muscat.

In a highly unusual and deeply personal gesture that broke all established protocol, Sultan Qaboos personally received the Indian President at the Muscat airport. Going beyond mere diplomatic courtesy, the Sultan reportedly climbed the aircraft stairs to greet Dr. Sharma inside the plane and later even drove the car himself with the President seated next to him.

When questioned about these remarkable breaches of protocol, Sultan Qaboos is said to have replied that he did not receive him as the Indian President, but as his revered former teacher. This powerful exchange underscored the deep respect and high regard the Sultan held for his Indian tutor and, by extension, for India itself.

Cementing Bilateral Ties

Sultan Qaboos, who ruled Oman from 1970 until his passing in 2020, was known as a visionary leader who transformed his country into a modern state. Throughout his five-decade-long reign, he consistently championed a strong and friendly relationship with India. His personal connection undoubtedly contributed to the enduring warmth and strategic partnership that defines India-Oman relations today. The Sultan’s fondness for India translated into a generous approach toward the large Indian diaspora in Oman, which is one of the largest expatriate communities in the Sultanate.

The bilateral relationship continues to thrive under the current Omani leadership, cemented by frequent high-level visits and a robust strategic partnership in areas like trade, defence, and culture. The personal educational link between Sultan Qaboos and Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma remains a charming and vital historical anecdote, symbolizing an inter-generational bond that strengthens the diplomatic friendship between the Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of India.